Fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 377 head, were down 53 head from the previous week and 190 head lower than the same time last year. Fed steers averaged $291.47/cwt, up $5.24/cwt from last week and $47.91/cwt above last year. Fed heifers averaged $288.80/cwt, up $1.72/cwt from last week and $45.35/cwt higher than last year. Auction markets reported this week that fed steers and heifers sold actively at stronger prices.
In Ontario, dressed sales in Ontario were at $480/cwt delivered, fully steady with the previous week. Cattle are being booked for late May/early June delivery. US packer interest was also supportive. Depending on freight and dressing percentage, sales to the US were working back to the upper $280’s/cwt FOB the feedlot. For the week ending May 3rd, Eastern Canadian processing was 6.0% below a year ago and 14.1% below the five-year average. YTD processing is down 4%, with steers down 5% and heifers steady, cows down 5% and bulls down 38%. For the week ending April 26th, Eastern fed cattle and cow exports to the US were 2,333 head, 29% below last year and 7% below the five-year average. YTD Eastern fed cattle and cow exports are up 43% from last year. The Canadian dollar has strengthened in recent weeks and is not positive news for beef exports.
Cull cow receipts sold through auction markets this week were 1,825 head, down 195 head from last week and down 241 head from last year. Cows averaged $180.46/cwt, down $0.39/cwt from last week but up $38.95/cwt from last year. Beef cow prices averaged $197.93/cwt, up $20.99/cwt from the previous week’s trade and $44.57/cwt above year ago prices. Auction markets reported on May 6th, cows sold actively at steady to stronger prices.
Receipts of 7,607 stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week, down 350 head from the previous week but 635 head more than the same week last year. Auction markets reported last week that stockers continued to sell slightly stronger. This week, all classes of stocker and feeder cattle sold actively at stronger prices. Actual average prices collected this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs trading $17.93/cwt stronger than last week on average, 500-600 lbs down $7.85/cwt, 600-700 lbs up $7.50/cwt, 700-800 lbs up $2.01/cwt, 800-900 lbs were down $6.30/cwt, steers 900-1000 lbs up $11.38/cwt and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $4.52/cwt weaker than the previous week’s weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $9.33/cwt from last week on average, 400-500 lbs up $0.74/cwt, 500-600 lbs up $5.43/cwt, 600-700 lbs down $7.63/cwt, 700-800 lbs down $2.53/cwt, 800-900 lbs up $10.88/cwt and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $1.92/cwt weaker than the previous week’s weighted average prices.
For the week ending April 26th, Eastern feeder exports to the US were 312 head, 43% lower than last year and 32% below the five-year average. YTD Eastern feeder exports are down 15% from last year.
